Who's hatching 6/10 also broodys due 5/27 hatching, 6/3, 6/5,

[emvickrey]

I definately don't plan to do this to myself again. 5 differnt hatch dates has been very difficult. I am making plans for the next try. I want to get an automatic turner also before I start. I will do my best not to open the bator for anything. Water can be added through the hole in the lid. I need a turner. That is my next thing to buy. I'm hoping to maybe find a used one. Can't afford a new one. My unemployment checks don't go far enough as it is.

 

[okiehen]

Quote:
What kind of incubator do you have? Do you do dry incubating?
If you do the dry method you could use the bottom of egg cartons.
And tilt the incubator from side to side for the first 18 days. Then add water for hatching. I hatch in the cartons and do the dry incubating. Have had good hatch rates.

 

[emvickrey]

Quote:
What kind of incubator do you have? Do you do dry incubating?
If you do the dry method you could use the bottom of egg cartons.
And tilt the incubator from side to side for the first 18 days. Then add water for hatching. I hatch in the cartons and do the dry incubating. Have had good hatch rates.

I use the cartons for the first 18 days but I also try to keep the humidity as close to 50% as I can It fluctuates some. And I prop up the bator and rotate that also during the 18 days. But this time I had different hatch dates. So I took the ones on their 3 day wait out of the cartons and laid them on their sides, then propped up the cartons that where not on the 3 day wait. The first batch I made the mistake of taking them all out of the cartons and lining up the ones on one side that had to be hand turned and the others not to rotate on the other side. When the hatching was over I replace them in the cartons and started the propping method. It required me having to open the bator way too much and the temps and humidity fluctuated up and down too far for my comfort.

So with this next batch I decided to put the ones on their wait period in the old bator. I made the mistake of using the older thermometer/hydrometer and the temps where off. Got up this morning and felt the eggs and didn't feel as warm as they sould have been. Put the digital in and temp was 87. Way too low. Humidity was close to the same at 45%. In this bator it is near impossible to get a high humidity. I closed most of the vent holes trying to hold humidity in. Didn't make much change other than the temp is holding.

If Ididn't have so many different hatch dates I could have been able to leave the bator shut and keep propping up the bator. I will not do this again.

And to add insult o injury. I really believe the last chick that did hatch is blind. It doesn't see me coming and run with the rest of the litle ones. It just stands there. It hasn't eaten that I've seen and it's crop feels empty. I stick its beak in the water and it does drink but I can't get it to eat. It will just stand there with the others while they eat. I thought it was natural for them to peck at the ground so when I cleaned the brooder last night I didn't put any shavings in it. Just paper towels so it could find the food easier but it doesn't even bend over to try to find it.

I have to get a turner. If I can't get beter results with a turner I'll just give up.

I have 8 Turkey eggs in the new bator and they all look not fertile and also 7 silkie/amarucana mix and they all look the same. That is the last of the eggs besides the 7 in the older bator.

6 out of 64 not good at all. Alot of the eggs had chicks that died very near the end. I just tossed out the last 2 that where due on the first. No sound or movement. Dead, again.

 

[okiehen]

Broody # 4 is setting on 1 doz buff orp eggs from dutchchick due to hatch 6/5.
She's hatching

I've seen 4 chicks so far.

 

[emvickrey]

None of the test eggs hatched yesterday and there isn't a sound or movement out of the 3 that i'm positive that do have something in them.

I have made a promis to myself not to ever get eggs shipped. If I can't find what I want local then I guess I just will have to buy the chicks, it those can be found. I have had absolutely nothing but bad luck with the bator full of shipped eggs I got.

Shipping is bad. I'm not blaming the senders, i'm blaming the shippers.

I have one chick right now that just refused to eat. I started hand feeding it last night and it is a huge struggle just to get a little bit in it.

 

[okiehen]

emv I'm sorry your not having better hatching luck.
If your ever in my neck of the woods I'd be happy to set you up with eggs.
Hope the little chicks starts getting better.

 

[okiehen]

Broody # 4 has had a great hatch woo hoo 11 of 12 chicks.

Set broody #6 last night with wheaten marans eggs from okcarla.
I have a black australorp hen clucking and puffed up today I'll have to see if she's thinking about being broody.

 

[simplyscrambled]

Candled again. Looks like 2 quit, much smaller 'dark mass' than the others. So I'm down to 24/43 original, and it's been 50% with-non shipped eggs, and about 60% still going on shipped eggs. Tomorrow, they come out of the turner!

 

[okiehen]

Quote:
I'm right with you with my incubator, I have 12 of my home laid welsummer eggs and 30 BLRW eggs shipped.
I hope we both get great hatches

I'll candle them when I take out the turner.

 

[emvickrey]

Quote:
Thanks for the offer but I doubt I will be coming to OK. The last time I was there was in 1983. The Olmulgee State Park was very nice though I remember. I guess I spelled that right.

As far as the blind chick. I have an Ultimate Chopper and I grind down the chick starter and add warm water. It won't acccept anything of consistancy. It has to be watered down and it takes a half hour just to get about a pencil eraser amount in. It fights real hard. I doubt it will make it but I have to try. It will stand right with the other chicks while they eat and the one I think is a roo will come and peck me when I go to pick up the blind one. He tries to protect it. It's really cute. The same thing happened to the one I call midget. It was a lone chick and came out backwards. I bought 2 chicks to keep it company and they grew normally and the lone chick grew very slowly. They protected it too. They are still together and Midget has caught up in growth.

I was about to toss the eggs taht where suppose to hatch yesteray this evening and one had pipped. I may get at least one out of that batch. I'll wait a few more days before I toss them now. I have another batch to go in the other bator for the 3 day wait on Monday.

Turkey egs still clear. I'll toss them.